About The HEAR Foundation (Health Education and Relief)

The HEAR Scholarship Foundation’s mission is to provide financial and mentoring support to Chicagoland High School graduates of need, who have demonstrated academic excellence, commitment to community, and highest moral character in pursuing their dream of a college education.

See, HEAR and discover what being awarded a HEAR Scholarship from our Foundation really means to some of our scholars. Listen to members of our Board of Directors explain why they felt compelled to become part of our organization and help change the futures of some of the Chicagoland area’s brightest students.

The HEAR Class of 2022 is our biggest yet, with 25 new scholars joining our program. We are delighted to welcome them into the HEAR Family of scholars and look forward to supporting them throughout their college careers. We are certain these 25 young men and women are destined for great things!

Meet the HEAR Scholar Class of 2022!

Please join us in congratulating these students as we celebrate their fantastic achievement….

Salma Barhoumeh from Lane Tech High SchoolEric Brzeski from Lane Tech High SchoolNick Caputo from Guerin College PrepRose Carroll from Chicago High School for Agricultural StudiesBrianna Davis from Morgan Park High SchoolTara Deane from Lane Tech High SchoolJean Dorelus from Evanston Township High SchjoolEric Filipiak from Glenbrook South High SchoolCJ Foronda from Glenbrook South High SchoolMoria Hand from Loyola Academy, WilmetteShagufta Khatoon from Chicago Math and Science AcademyOliwia Lakomy from Lane Tech High SchoolNicola Maimon from Neuqua Valley High SchoolJacqueline Mendoza from Taft High SchoolVanessa Nieto fromSt. Ignatius College PrepJustin Pita from Latin School of ChicagoRichard Rivera from Loyola Academy, WilmetteTaylor Smith from Trinity High SchoolKress Stewart from Walter Payton College PrepCaitlin Strickland from Evanston Township High SchoolEllery Therriault from Northside College PrepAniyah Travis from Kenwood High SchoolDaisy Trujillo from Northside College PrepAnnie Zhou from Walter Payton College PrepMelanie Zuniga from Resurrection College Prep

Our Annual Awards Ceremony at St. Ignatius College Prep on May 8th was very successful . We welcomed our newest class of HEAR Scholars into the HEAR Family and celebrated our graduating HEAR Class of 2017.

Our Keynote Speaker, Dr. Toinette McClellan Gunn (Vice President of Programs at Chicago Scholars), was on point and resonated with our past, present and future scholars as she shared her own story of how she persevered throughout her years as a student both at high school and through college. Despite many barriers Dr. Gunn, herself a first-generation college goer, understood how important education is to a successful future. We are incredibly grateful to her for taking time out of her busy schedule to talk to our scholars.

The HEAR Foundation is seeking Mentors to help support our new class of 2022 Scholars.

On May 8th 2018, The HEAR Foundation officially awarding 25 new college scholarships to High School graduates in financial need, who have shown perseverance and demonstrated academic excellence. Many of these students are first-generation college-goers in their family. You can help them navigate through their new and exciting journey!

In order to support these scholars we are focussing attention on recruiting mentors for the HEAR Class of 2022.

If you, or anyone you know, is interested in learning more about becoming a mentor (or are ready to volunteer your services), and want to make a meaningful difference in a young person’s life – whilst at the same time no doubt enriching your own – please contact our Director of Mentoring, Melissa Vela at: mentoring@hearfoundation.org.

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Recently from the Blog

Sunday, July 8th was our annual HEAR Summer Scholar Event and we were fortunate to be able to hold it at the Chicago Academy for the Arts who very kindly let us use their space. The main focus this year was on our newest, and largest, class of HEAR Scholars. In the...

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